eric

heres a trick i use when i use my casting reels on a boat or surf.
all of them are open frames with no levelwinds so the idea is the same. we call it simply 'thumbing the line'

except in this case, youll need to use your right index finger.


from your pic, your reeling with the left hand?

when you have a fish on, (rod in right hand)  slightly roll your rod up 45deg clockwise. (point the reel towards your left thigh)
when the line hits the right flange of the spool, 
use your index finger to push the line from the right side to the left side of the spool while reeling in.
relax the finger when the line is on the left flange,

if you keep reeling, gravity and physics makes the line return to the left side automatically (because your reel is slightly turned to the side)
then you push it to the left again.

itll take practice to get used to this.  after a while itll become second nature. and youll never have this kind of problem again.

its not really heavy.. especially if you get use to it. or with a fish on.

and if use the correct class rod, you dont feel the weight hanging at the tip.

most of you probably dont realize,, your trolling or H/XH musky rods can also hang 8oz without issue.
a popular rod back then was the stcroix premier FW musky graphite or composite rod.

it fished upwards to 12oz .. but the action was too fast to really do good.

Looks awesome! It must be nice, knowing your the only one with that exact rod! What fish would you target with this rod? Would technique would you use this rod for?

well this blank was designed by a good rodbuilder down in NYC and then manufactured by Seeker.  

its originally made for bottom/wreck fishing we do in the northeast with 6-14oz sinkers.
for fish like tautog, cod, ling, seabass, porgy, bluefish, striped bass.  but alot of people in the US use it for many other SW fish.

but the action is soooooo versatile.  you can vertical jig 4-10oz easily.  live bait.  cast lures with it.  even troll with it.  

i also have the Lite version which is good for 1-8oz sinkers with about 5/8th the power the the heavy version.

maybe if i try a trolling boat here (chances are slim, not a troll fan unless for tuna or marlin) ,  i guess itll work for salmon and trout.